Tenter clip

ABSTRACT

A clip construction having a body, a pinplate support, and a gripper with the body comprising a pair of sheet metal stampings which are formed and welded together. The pin-plate support conveniently secures a pinplate and is so configured in relation to the gripper, both of which being pivotally secured to the body, that the gripper alone locks the pinplate support in operative position.

United States Patent I 1;

Mitchell 3,744,107 [451 July 10, 1973 TENTER CLIP [75] Inventor: Derek Mitchell, Larkhall, Scotland [73] Assignee: Proctor and Schwartz, 1nc., Philadelphia, Pa.

22 Filed: June 17, I971 21 App1.No.: 154,115

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 9, 1970 Great Britain 43,166/70 [52] US. Cl 26/62 C [51] Int. Cl. D06c 3/10 [58] Field of Search 26/62 A, 62 B, 62 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,866 6/1901 Weichelt et al 26/62 B X 2,724,888 11/1955 Buysch et a1 26/62 C 2,799,913 7/1957 Mohring et a1. 26/62 C X 2,968,084 l/ 1961 Mohring 26/62 C 3,066,378 12/1962 Mohring 26/62 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 943,290 5/1956 Germany 26/62 c 1,081,407 5/1960 Germany 26/62 C 1,191,328 4/1965 Germany 26/62 C Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney-Merton H. Douthitt [5 7] ABSTRACT A clip construction having a body, a pinplate support, and a gripper with the body comprising a pair of sheet metal stampings which are formed and welded together. The pin-plate support conveniently secures a pinplate and is so configured in relation to the gripper, both of which being pivotally secured to the body, that the gripper alone locks the pinplate support in operative position.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 1 0 .SIEHIBFS FIGQI INVENTOR. Derek Mitchell ATTORNEY FIG.}3

PAIENTED JUL 0 smears FIG.4

. INVENTOR.

- Derek Mitchell FIG. 8

ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of tentering machines and, more particularly, to clip constructions utilized therewith.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional tentering machines such as tenter dryers, a continuous length of web material is conveyed through the dryer by tenter clips, either by gripper or pinplate, which engage the lateral marginal portions of the web and slide longitudinally through the dryer on chain rails along opposite sides of the dryer housing.

When tentering synthetic films and woven textiles, the web is normally held by a clip gripper which has an upper jaw pivotal between a closed clamping position in which it engages the web between it and a fixed portion of the clip construction and an open position in which the web is released from engagement. The upper jaw of the gripper is actuated at the entrance end to clamp the jaw on the web and at the exit end to release the web.

When tentering knitted textile materials, the web is normally held by clip pins secured to a pinplate support. Again, the clips having the pins slide longitudinally through the dryer on chain rails along opposite sides of the dryer housing. Normally, maintenance of the pinplate support in web catching position requires a locking element which is actuated at the start of the run when the pinplate support is moved to substantially horizontal position and is released when converting to gripper operation again.

The principal clip body of the prior art is constructed from malleable iron or aluminum alloy. However, this clip body has had an inconsistent quality in manufacture, a somewhat higher manufacturing cost than desirable and a heat distortion problem, i.e., warping, at heat treating temperatures.

The present invention discloses a clip construction and method of manufacture which completely do away with the above-mentioned negative factors of the prior art and provide numerous features which alone or in combination are considered a substantial advance over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed-toward a clip construction and method of manufacture which produce a product having a lower manufacturing cost, more consistent quality in manufacture and substantially reduced heat distortion.

With respect to the preferred embodiment, the clip construction comprises a body and a gripper, the body being two portions stamped, formed and welded together and the gripper being pivotally connected thereto. A one-piece pinplate support may also be stamped and formed and then pivotally connected to the body portion.

A further feature of the present invention as shown in the preferred embodiment is an interrelationship of the gripper and the pinplate support with the gripper acting as a locking means for the pinplate support in operation. In addition, a feature directed toward the simplification of pinplate attachment to the pinplate support is shown.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when reading the following claims and description in the light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the clip construction of the present invention slidably mounted on a rail of a tenter frame shown in cross-section, with its gripper and pinplate support in operative position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the clip body of the present invention shown perpendicular to its position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of one of the two portions of the clip body subsequent to stamping but prior to deformation;

FIG. 4 is a planar view of the other portion of the clip body subsequent to stamping but prior to deformation;

FIG. 5 is a top viewelevational view of the clip body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom and elevational view of the clip body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the pinplate support of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a planar view of the pinplate support subsequent to stamping but prior to deformation;

FIG. 9 is a planar view of the pinplate support shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of an elastomeric pinplate of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawings with reference numerals, in FIG. 1, a clip construction generally designated at l and embodying the present invention is shown in relation to a tenter frame rail generally designated at 2 of a tenter dryer. The clip construction comprises a body 2, a pinplate support 3 pivotally secured to the body 2 by pivot pin 4 and biased to inoperative position by spring means 5, and gripper 6 having web clamping jaw 16 and being pivotally secured to body 2 by pivot pin 7. The gripper is effective, when the pinplate support is utilized with the clip construction, to lock the pinplate support 3 in horizontal position as shown in FIG. 1 by the positioning of pin 8 behind shoulders 9 of the pinplate support. It should be noted that the pinplate support,3 has camming surfaces 10 which facilitate the positioning of the pin 8 behind the shoulders 9. The support 3 carries a pinplate 11 which has a plurality of pins 12 adapted to catch a web of ma terial being longitudinally drawn through the tenter dryer. The plate 11 is secured to support 3 by a keying slot arrangement to be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 8 and 10 hereinafter.

The clip body, as seen in FIG. 3, includes a pair of keying slots 13 and opening 14 to fixedly secure the clip construction 1 to a roller or slide construction generally designated at 15 adapted to slidingly move within the rail 2 of the tenter dryer frame. The means of attachment of the clip construction 1 to the rail 2 through the roller or slide construction 15 is of conventional construction and is not intended to form a part of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the body 2 of the clip construction 1 is shown and comprises a channel portion 17 and an insert portion 18 welded thereto by spot and flash welding techniques along the seams of contact. The portions 17 and 18 are preferably stamped from stainless steel sheet metal and are deformed from the respective showings in FIGS. 3 and 4 to arrive at the configurations of FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.

In FIG. 3, the channel portion 17 is shown prior to deformation along the bend lines 19 and 20. Thus, upon deformation as seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the channel portion base 21 having slots 13 and opening 14 is horizontally positioned with respect to vertical flange parts 22 and 23. Also, upon deformation, the openings 24 and 25 in respective flange parts 22 and 23 become aligned as seen in FIG. 2 as do respective openings 26 and 27. The aligned openings 24 and 25 are intended to receive pivot pin 7 providing the pivotal connection between the gripper 6 and the body 2, and aligned openings 26 and 27 are intended to receive pivot pin 4 for pivotal connection of the pinplate support 3 to the body 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the insert portion 18 includes bend lines 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 which give rise, upon deformation, to flange parts 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. The flange parts 33 through 38 are so configured upon deformation that they interfit with the channel portion 17 as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. The flash and spot welding techniques applied to the contacting surfaces of the portions 17 and 18 in combination with the configuration and materials substantially reduce the cost, provide more consistent quality and give rise to negligible heat distortion. In addition to the flange parts 33 through 38, insert portion 18 also includes four longitudinal slots in part 36. The outer pair of longitudinally extending slots 39 receive the upstanding flanges 43, 44 of the pinplate support 3 as seen in FIGS. 7-9 on rotation to operative position and the inner pair of longitudinally extending slots 41 receive a pair of rollers 42 rotatably fixed to the gripper 6 by pin 8. The rollers 42 are received in the slots 41 when the gripper 6 is in operative position or is used as an adjunct to the pinplate by locking the pinplate 3 in operative position.

The pinplate 3, as shown in FIG. 7, comprises a pair of upstanding flanges 43, 44 (see also FIG.8), a base part 46, a vertical flange part 47 and a horizontal flange part 48.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the pinplate support 3, preferably made of stainless steel sheet metal is shown stamped but prior to deformation. The stamped piece includes bend lines 49, 50, 61 and 62 to form, upon deformation, the parts 43, 44, 46, 47 and 48. The upstanding flange parts 43 and 44 each include an opening 45 which, as shown in FIG. I, is adapted to receive the pivotpin 4. As stated previously, the upstanding flanges 43, 44 include camming surfaces which assist in the positioning of the pin 8 behind the shoulders 9 to lock the pinplate support in operative position.

As can be noted from FIGS. 8 and 9, the flange parts 47 and 48 in pre-deformed and deformed position respectively together define three keying slots 40 which are adapted to receive the keys of a pinplate 11 as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, upon deformation the slots 40 comprise a wide entrance portion 51 in vertical flange part 47, a tapering neck portion 52 and a securement portion 53, the latter two portions being in the horizontal flange part 48. Thus, a properly dimensioned pinplate 1 1, preferably made of elastromeric material, having a plurality of pins 12 is secured to the pinplate support 3 by the reception of the keys 54 of the pinplate 11 within the slots 40. The keys 54 of the pinplate 11 comprise a base portion 55 and a neck portion 56, the neck portion having a height dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the flange part 48 and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of securement portion 53 of the slot. Thus, upon insertion of the keys 54 within the slots 40, the entrance portions 51 will permit the base portions 55 of the keys 54 to underlie the flange part 48 while the neck portions 52 of the slots, because of their taper, compressively pass the neck portions 56 of the keys 54 into the securement portions 53 of the slots to securely hold the pinplates 11 to the support 3. It should be noted that the neck portions 56'snap into the securement portions 53 and are lockingly held in the portions 53 because of their larger diameter than the width of the tapering neck portions 52 adjacent the portions 53. Of course, a conventional pinplate, not shown, may be utilized and secured to the support 3 in portions 53 by bolts, washers and nuts.

When the pinplate support 3 with its secured pinplate l 1 is desired to be used, rotation of the support 3 about pivot pin 4 is accomplished by conventional means at the entrance of the tenter run as, e.g, rollers. As the support 3 rotates to substantially horizontal position, the projections of the pin 8 beyond the pair of spaced apart wheels 42 are contacted by the surfaces 10 and are rotated slightly about the pivot pin 7 as they ride up the surfaces 10 to finally fall behind the shoulders 9 and lock the support 3 in operative position. It should be noted that the pair of wheels 42 have a conventional gripper function properly orienting th'e gripping of the passing web and give rise to a moment about pivot pin 7 which biases the gripper 6 to operative position. When the end of the run is reached, the pinplate support 3 is released to inoperative position by conventional means at the end of the run which forces a clockwise rotation of the gripper about pin 7. The spring 5 permits, upon initial clockwise rotation of gripper 6, a slight counterclockwise rotation of the plate 3 about pin 4 until pin 8 is moved from its position behind shoulder 9. The bias of spring 5, once pin 8 is out from behind shoulder 9, then rotates the pinplate support 3 clockwise about pin 4 to inoperative position.

As can be readily noted from the discussion above, the clip body is manufactured by a method including the steps of stamping the portions 17 and 18 (as shown in respective FIGS. 3 and 4) from sheet metal and then deforming as by bending certain parts of the stampings to arrive at operative configurations. As deformed, the portions 17 and 18 are interfitted and welded together as by spot and/or flash welding to form welded seams or individual welded points of contacL'The pinplate support 3 is manufactured by a method which comprises the steps of stamping the initial configuration shown in FIG. 8 and then deforming the initial configuration as by bending to arrive at the operative configurations of FIGS. 7 and 9. Both the clip body and the pinplate support are provided with pairs of openings which are intended to be operatively aligned for the reception of a pivot pin to pivotally retain the pinplate support in relation to the clip body. The elastomeric pinplates are manufactured by conventional molding techniques utilizing elastomeric material, and the pinplate support as stamped is provided with keying slots for securement of the elastomeric pinplate. The insert portion 18 of the body as stamped is provided with pairs of slots for reception of parts of the pinplate support and gripper in operation.

The present invention has thus disclosed a new clip construction having a plurality of novel features. Since the preferred embodiment may be modified in numerous ways within the scope of .the present invention, as, e.g, by obvious modifications in the configurations of the stampings, by changes in materials, et cetera, the preferred embodiment should be viewed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A tenter clip comprising a body portion, gripper means including a first pivot means pivotally securing the gripper means to said body portion, a pinplate support including a second pivot means pivotally securing the pinplate support to said body portion, a first bias means pivotally biasing said support to an inoperative position, a second bias means pivotally biasing said gripper means to an operative position, said support having a flange means including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces and said gripper means having a keeper means, said pivot means establishing pivot planes for the support and gripper means whereby the flange means and keeper means pivot in intersecting paths so that upon pivotal movement of said support to the operative position while the gripper means is in the operative position, said keeper means automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against said shoulder surface to lock said support in the operative position.

2. A tenter clip stamped from sheet metal comprising a plurality of portions including;

a first portion having a first base in the shape of a channel providing means for securing said first portion to tentering apparatus, 7

a first pair of flange parts extending from said base generally aligned with the channel sides and integral therewith,

a second pair of flange parts generally parallel with said first pair of flange parts extending from said base at an elevation spaced from the first pair of flange parts,

a second U-shaped sheet metal portion secured to said first portion shaped to extend between said first pair of flange parts, said second pair of flange parts and said channel sides defining with the flange parts a box-like construction rigidifying the flange parts,

gripper means pivotally mounted on and between said first pair of flange parts, and

a pinplate support pivotally mounted on and between said second pair of flange parts.

3. The clip of claim 2 including a pair of support flange parts on said pinplate support each including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces, said gripper means including a keepr means pivotal therewith which, upon pivotal movement of the pinplate support to operative position, while the gripper means is in the operative position, automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against the shoulder surface to lock the pinplate support in operative position,

further including a first bias means biasing said gripper means to an operative position and a second bias means biasing said pinplate support to an inop- 6 erative position and wherein said second portion defines a surface between said second pair of flange parts, said surface permitting said camming and shoulder surfaces to pass therethrough.

4. The clip set forth in claim 3, each of said first pair of flange parts having an opening therethrough aligned with the other, said gripper means having at least one opening therethrough, and pivot pin means extending through said flange part aligned openings and said at least one gripper means opening to pivotally connect said gripper means to said first portion.

5. The clip set forth in claim 3 wherein said pinplate support includes at least one keying slot, and at least one pinplate having at least one key extending therefrom and received within said at least one keying slot to securely hold said pinplate to said support.

6. The clip set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one keying slot is defined by a neck portion tapering inwardly toward an enlarged securement portion and forming a shoulder therewith, and said at least one key is elastomeric so that it may be compressively passed through said neck portion into said securement portion behind said shoulder.

7. A tenter clip stamped from sheet metal comprising a plurality of portions including:

a first portion having a first base in the shape of a channel providing means for securing said first portion to tentering apparatus,

a first pair of flange parts extending from said base generally aligned with the channel sides and integral therewith,

a second pair of flange parts generally parallel with said first pair of flange parts and extending from said base at an elevation spaced from the first pair of flange parts,

a second U-shaped sheet metal portion secured to the first portion shaped to extend between said first pair of flange parts, said second pair of flange parts and said channel sides defining with the flange parts and first portion a box-like construction rigidifying the flange parts,

gripper means pivotally mounted on and between said first pair of flange parts,

a pinplate support pivotally mounted on and between said second pair of flange parts,

flange means on said pinplate support including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces,

said second portion defining a surface between said second pair of flange parts, said surface permitting said camming and shoulder surfaces to pass therethrough keeper means on said gripper means,

said pinplate support and gripper means being pivotal in planes of movement whereby as said support means moves to an operative position, while the gripper means is in an operative position, the keeper means automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against said shoulder surface to lock said pinplate support in operative position, and

means biasing said pinplate support to an inoperative position and said gripper means to an operative position. 

1. A tenter clip comprising a body portion, gripper means including a first pivot means pivotally securing the gripper means to said body portion, a pinplate support including a second pivot means pivotally securing the pinplate support to said body portion, a first bias means pivotally biasing said support to an inoperative position, a second bias means pivotally biasing said gripper means to an operative position, said support having a flange means including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces and said gripper means having a keeper means, said pivot means establishing pivot planes for the support and gripper means whereby the flange means and keeper means pivot in intersecting paths so that upon pivotal movement of said support to the operative position while the gripper means is in the operative position, said keeper means automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against said shoulder surface to lock said support in the operative position.
 2. A tenter cLip stamped from sheet metal comprising a plurality of portions including; a first portion having a first base in the shape of a channel providing means for securing said first portion to tentering apparatus, a first pair of flange parts extending from said base generally aligned with the channel sides and integral therewith, a second pair of flange parts generally parallel with said first pair of flange parts extending from said base at an elevation spaced from the first pair of flange parts, a second U-shaped sheet metal portion secured to said first portion shaped to extend between said first pair of flange parts, said second pair of flange parts and said channel sides defining with the flange parts a box-like construction rigidifying the flange parts, gripper means pivotally mounted on and between said first pair of flange parts, and a pinplate support pivotally mounted on and between said second pair of flange parts.
 3. The clip of claim 2 including a pair of support flange parts on said pinplate support each including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces, said gripper means including a keeper means pivotal therewith which, upon pivotal movement of the pinplate support to operative position, while the gripper means is in the operative position, automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against the shoulder surface to lock the pinplate support in operative position, further including a first bias means biasing said gripper means to an operative position and a second bias means biasing said pinplate support to an inoperative position and wherein said second portion defines a surface between said second pair of flange parts, said surface permitting said camming and shoulder surfaces to pass therethrough.
 4. The clip set forth in claim 3, each of said first pair of flange parts having an opening therethrough aligned with the other, said gripper means having at least one opening therethrough, and pivot pin means extending through said flange part aligned openings and said at least one gripper means opening to pivotally connect said gripper means to said first portion.
 5. The clip set forth in claim 3 wherein said pinplate support includes at least one keying slot, and at least one pinplate having at least one key extending therefrom and received within said at least one keying slot to securely hold said pinplate to said support.
 6. The clip set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one key-ing slot is defined by a neck portion tapering inwardly toward an enlarged securement portion and forming a shoulder therewith, and said at least one key is elastomeric so that it may be compressively passed through said neck portion into said securement portion behind said shoulder.
 7. A tenter clip stamped from sheet metal comprising a plurality of portions including: a first portion having a first base in the shape of a channel providing means for securing said first portion to tentering apparatus, a first pair of flange parts extending from said base generally aligned with the channel sides and integral therewith, a second pair of flange parts generally parallel with said first pair of flange parts and extending from said base at an elevation spaced from the first pair of flange parts, a second U-shaped sheet metal portion secured to the first portion shaped to extend between said first pair of flange parts, said second pair of flange parts and said channel sides defining with the flange parts and first portion a box-like construction rigidifying the flange parts, gripper means pivotally mounted on and between said first pair of flange parts, a pinplate support pivotally mounted on and between said second pair of flange parts, flange means on said pinplate support including generally oppositely facing camming and shoulder surfaces, said second portion defining a surface between said second pair of flange parts, said surface permitting said camming and sHoulder surfaces to pass therethrough keeper means on said gripper means, said pinplate support and gripper means being pivotal in planes of movement whereby as said support means moves to an operative position, while the gripper means is in an operative position, the keeper means automatically rides over said camming surface and seats against said shoulder surface to lock said pinplate support in operative position, and means biasing said pinplate support to an inoperative position and said gripper means to an operative position. 